Great Himalayan Trail Nepal

The Great Himalaya Trail (GHT) stands as the ultimate trekking adventure, spanning approximately 1,700 kilometers across the Nepali Himalaya from east to west. To conquer this high-altitude network of trails, a combination of peak fitness and hiking experience is a must. For those not ready to tackle the full 1,700-kilometer, 148-day journey, the GHT is conveniently divided into 10 sections of varying difficulty, making it accessible to trekkers with varying abilities. The trail’s journey begins in Nepal, nestled to the north of India, on the cusp of the Tibetan Plateau. Here, the air is rarified, the land is rugged, and the people, of Tibetan origin and Buddhist tradition, are hardy. Along this path, you’ll encounter Everest, the Sherpa people, ancient trading routes to Mount Kailash, lush jungles in the south, diverse hill communities, and a tapestry of spiritual and cultural riches. The GHT’s history traces back to 1980, with a visionary concept to extend it over 4,500 kilometers through multiple countries. Although that remains a concept, the Nepali section has become a reality, thanks in part to record-holding adventurers like Apa Sherpa and his team, who completed it in just 99 days. To embark on this journey, you need an exceptional level of fitness, ice climbing skills for the eastern end, adaptability to uncertain conditions, and extensive trekking and mountaineering experience. Thankfully, the trail can be divided into smaller, manageable sections, ranging from one to four weeks, catering to various fitness levels, budgets, and time constraints, allowing you to customize your epic Himalayan adventure.

• Walking times, both of total trek duration and daily walking times are for the average trekker of good fitness and you will probably not walk exactly the same time. Measure your walking pace against those stated and you should find that it is consistently different. You can then calculate your relative walking time for each day. Note that the walking times quoted do not include any rest breaks.
• Total trek durations are for itineraries that begin and end in Kathmandu or Pokhara.
• Quoted altitudes have an average accuracy of + or -15m; however, considering trail and demographic changes, it is wise to assume a general accuracy of + or -50m.
• Place names are given in their most common form but pronunciation may vary considerably.
• Directions are given as you look ahead, or in the direction of movement along the trail. When referenced to a water course, directions are given as the ‘true’ direction (facing downstream) so, ‘true left’ is the left bank of a river while facing downstream.
• Make sure you are not over committing yourself. Your mental and physical health combined with environmental factors can affect your trekking speed on a daily basis.